Cincinnati Reds vs San Francisco Giants Match Player Stats On May 11, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 12, 2017

SAN FRANCISCO -- Zack Cozart's second double of the game scored Scooter Gennett with the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning Thursday night as the Cincinnati Reds continued their dominance over the San Francisco Giants with a 3-2 victory in the opener of a four-game series.

Right-hander Bronson Arroyo combined with three relievers to scatter 11 hits for the Reds, who recorded 13-3, 14-2 and 4-0 wins over the Giants last weekend in a historically lopsided three-game sweep.

A late-game substitution at second base, Gennett led off the eighth against right-hander Hunter Strickland (0-1) with a triple to the fence in center field that tipped off the glove of Giants center fielder Denard Span.

Strickland got Billy Hamilton on a grounder to first baseman Brandon Belt, holding Gennett at third, before Cozart laced a double to left-center.

Left-hander Wandy Peralta (2-0), the third Reds pitcher, held the Giants scoreless in the eighth before closer Raisel Iglesias stranded the potential tying run at third base in the ninth for his seventh save.

Hamilton and Cozart had two hits apiece, and Joey Votto had two RBIs for the Reds, who won for the sixth time in their past seven games.

The Reds were opening a seven-game trip.

Belt hit a solo home run in the first inning and Span added one in the fifth, both off Arroyo, to provide all the San Francisco scoring.

Span finished with four hits for the Giants, who were opening a seven-game homestand after a 2-7 trip.

In between the homers by Belt and Span, the Reds had a chance to take a lead in the fourth inning before settling for just a 1-1 tie.

A single by Hamilton, Cincinnati's first hit of the game, and a double by Cozart gave the Reds second and third with no outs. Hamilton then scored the tying run on Votto's infield out.

After Adam Duvall struck out with Cozart at third, Eugenio Suarez walked and stole second. However, Giants starter Ty Blach was able to retire Scott Schebler on a comebacker, preserving the 1-1 tie.

Votto's second RBI also produced a tie when his single to left scored Hamilton, who had singled, to make it 2-2 in the sixth.

Again, the Reds threatened to do more when Duvall singled Votto to second with one out. But Suarez grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Blach threw seven innings of two-run ball, while Arroyo gave up two runs in six innings.

NOTES: The Reds have won 40 of 64 games against the Giants over the last 10 seasons, a .625 winning percentage that is the highest among all San Francisco opponents over that stretch. ... The Giants reinstated SS Brandon Crawford (strained right groin) and CF Denard Span (sprained shoulder) from the disabled list before the game. To make room on the active roster, RHP Reyes Moronta was demoted to Double-A Richmond after Wednesday's win in New York, and INF Conor Gillaspie (back spasms) was placed on the 10-day DL. ... The Reds promoted RHP Lisalverto Bonilla from Triple-A Louisville before the game and have slotted him to start Saturday in place of RHP Rookie Davis, who was sent to Louisville on Wednesday. ... During the break between the top and bottom of the second inning, Giants fans sang "Happy Birthday" to Willie Mays, who turned 86 on Saturday while the Giants were on the road. Mays attended the Thursday game.